Downs Link to Brighton

Back in February, we got together to create the runs list for the 2nd quarter of the year and Val (our "keep it flat and not too long" expert) suggested a ride out on the Downs Link to Shoreham and then along the coast to Brighton. Everyone at the meeting seemed quite keen, so in it went: a ride leader was determined, a route and itinerary worked out and the details published in The Pedaller (as well as  our august webpages).  No going back then even though it was pouring with rain on the Saturday and 8 o'clock seemed way too early and cold to be getting on a bike. Nervous communications on Saturday evening suggested maybe four people would turn up but, lo and behold, there were 7 of us at Horsham Pavilions in the Park (Anton, Barbara, Bob, Ken, Malcolm, Pete E and Val) and we picked up 2 more from Horsham station (Corinne and John V).

Anton was ride leader but he let Pete E guide us through Horsham and out on Pedlars Way. In spite of Saturdays downpour, the trail wasn't muddy, just slightly soft, and the lanes were nice and dry. At Copsale we noted that the sign for The Bridge Inn has been kept but now reads "Bridge House" - another pub gone. How many old King and Barnes pubs have disappeared since the Hall and Woodhouse takeover?

The clouds were starting to break up now and the temperature was just about perfect for cycling with just a hint of a tailwind. The Downs Link surface was about as good as it could be although a feature of todays ride would be how much the vegetation was encroaching on each side of the path.

It didn't take us long to get to Partridge Green, then shortly after we noticed that they've put a surfaced path across the grassy field - previously there was(were?) just a couple of muddy grooves to follow, now there is a nice, raised pressed stone path.

The following video starts from the gate entering the field and includes a lot of the Downs Link to Shoreham (at four times normal speed).....

10 minutes of video

In Shoreham we emerged on the roundabout in the town centre and used the A259 for a while before turning right to pick up NCN 2 and cross the lock gates for the east harbour. The cycle path was really quite busy and by now the sun was blazing above.

We stopped for a quick loo break before continuing on along NCN 2. Shoreham Harbour amy not be the most picturesque (or sweet smelling), but I enjoyed riding through it and the road wasn't too busy.  At Hove Lagoon, NCN 2 becomes a shared use path on the south side of the A259 and is a really fast and pleasant way to travel along the front - so long as you take account of other users and pedestrians. The further east we went, the busier the seafront became and so, when we got to Hove lawns cafe we decided to stop for lunch as we were worried that eating places may be too busy for 9 of us if travelled further on and closer to midday....

We pushed a couple of tables together, made our orders and were eating and drinking within just a few minutes. It was very pleasant sitting there in the sun I can tell you, although I had to put my neck scarf over my head to ensure I didn't start to look like a swan vestas match!!

After about an hour or so, we decided to move on and our little party shed three of our number - Corinne was heading into Brighton of an afternoon of being a tourist, Barbara and John headed to Brighton station for a train back north and the rest of us headed back the way we came (I did think of suggesting an alternate route involving a climb up to Devils Dyke, a fast off road descent and a few miles of upsy downsy small lanes as far as Henfield, but thought better of it).

At some point there will be a video here showing various parts of the return journey - but it's not ready yet.....


We retraced our steps to Shoreham harbour and over the lock gates but then we followed the proper NCN 2 routing over the A259 and along some quiet back streets before taking the signposted cut through to the Downs Link which we rejoined by the Red Lion. The ride back was pleasant with the sun on our backs although the headwind and ever so slight upward trend did make it a bit harder than the morning. That seemed like a very good excuse too stop at the Cat and Canary in Henfield for lashings of ginger beer (well actually most of us had cider).

Partridge Green and West Grinstead were soon behind us and at Copsale we decided to continue to Southwater Country Park where we had another stop - might as well have an ice cream this time :-)

We tried to use Normans "back streets of Southwater" route but missed one turn and ended up on the Old Horsham Road for about a mile before heading across to Newfoundout and then back on Pedlars Way into Horsham and the end of the ride.

The end of the ride for all of us that is apart from Ken who was todays Hard Man. He'd ridden over from Crawley first thing and now proceeded to ride back. He was so quick that my chauffeur only caught up with Ken when he was but a couple of hundred yards from home!

Thanks everyone for taking part - judging by your chatter and smiling faces, I reckon you all enjoyed the ride. Well done Val for suggesting it in the first place (and well done for completing what was nearly a 60 mile ride).

Next week sees the next DA Event. This is the second of the DA Events that we organise and is The Two Weald Ride. Based at Wisborough Green (TQ048259), riders will be there from all three Member Groups within the West Sussex CTC and there will be a choice of four different 25 mile loops available to ride. Your committee will be there with refreshments between 10:00 hrs and 16:00hrs (thanks again to Frank and Pat with their camper van) - bring along home made cakes or biscuits for us to sell to raise funds for our club.

The route instructions and the overview map are available here , so if you want to get started before we've set up the refreshments, be your own boss. Why not try and do all four loops in one day??